|
Good morning, Hamilton County! In today’s edition: Mayor Sue Finkam’s 2026 plans, comic book in a day, Disney on Ice, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
|
📰 In the news
Ambitions amid tighter state limits: Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam outlines 2026 plans, from possible AI to parks upgrades, as Senate Enrolled Act 1 tightens funding. Big redevelopment deals are expected, with milestone anniversaries ahead — get all the details.
Guided by professional artists: Indiana’s 13th Annual Comic Book in a Day Challenge takes place Jan. 16-17, inviting creators of all ages to craft comics, online or in person. Registration is open — get competition and mentor details.
Upscale amenities previewed: PCCP, Trinitas Ventures, and Peninsula Investments are building Avanza at Hyde Park, a 237-unit build-for-rent community in Noblesville, now underway and set for Fall 2027 completion, with villas and townhomes — explore features and finishes.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
|
🫶 We got your back
Neighbors unite against hunger: Fishers, Indiana is rallying volunteers for the 2026 MLK Day Community Food Drive to tackle a serious local food shortage. Helpers are needed at multiple Kroger stores, with participation details available online. The effort is planned for MLK Day later this month. See how to get involved.
A little brain + pine: Cool Creek Park and Nature Center pairs hands-on exhibits with easy trails, making local ecology click and short visits stretch. Wander solo, bring a friend, or entertain a curious kid, then breathe a little deeper as the trees do their quiet work.
Wrapped-up weeknight win: Craving something warm, messy, and totally fix-worthy after a long day? Two Rivers Burrito rolls hearty burritos, bowls, and tacos with local-leaning ingredients and fresh tortillas from a crew feeding Westfield since 2013. Good for takeout or lingering with friends.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
|
📆 Around town this weekend
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
♻ Holiday Tree Recycling Day @ Central Park | Friday (1/9) at 1:00 PM – The annual needle purge is here: drop your bare, live tree at the Central Park Westermeier Commons lot, sip something warm, and let pros turn it into mulch for our parks. Your trunk gets its trunk back, your carpet stays pine-free, and the neighborhood benefits.
🎸 13th Annual Fishers Blues Fest @ Nickel Plate District Amphitheater | Friday (1/9) at 5:00 PM – Labor Day weekend in Fishers means Blues Fest at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, two nights of guitar grit and soul. Expect local, regional, and world-renowned players, neighbors you actually like, and the kind of easy summer vibe that makes Monday feel optional.
🏺 Charcuterie Board Clay Class @ Kiln Creations | Friday (1/9) at 6:00 PM – Trade your store-bought platter for a charcuterie board you actually make in a beginner-friendly clay class. Shape, stamp, and carve two pounds of clay, then return in two weeks to paint, sip something cozy, and admire your handiwork without pretending you foraged the rosemary.
🎉 Flying Change’s Grand Opening @ Flying Change | Saturday (1/10) at 9:00 AM – Not your first rodeo? Flying Change is finally opening in Fishers, a shop built by horse folks for horse folks. Swing by to browse gear, swap barn stories, and support a local spot that actually smells like leather, not mall perfume.
🧘 New Year Nidra and Intention Setting @ Prana Yoga & Wellness | Saturday (1/10) at 12:00 PM – Trade noisy resolutions for yoga nidra, basically a nap you can brag about. Set an intention, then sink into deep stillness with spoken cues and provided props, and bring a blanket and socks. All levels, all bodies welcome, members $1, non-members $20.
🧦 Ice Dyeing Warm Winter Socks @ Taylor Center of Natural History | Saturday (1/10) at 1:00 PM – Nothing beats artsy color therapy when winter drags on, so join natural dye artist Hannah Hadley and turn ice, dye, and plain socks into cozy little masterpieces. Learn the process, make a pair to keep or gift, then enjoy warm toes, warm ego.
🏺 Meep Clay Creation Night @ Kiln Creations | Sunday (1/11) at 5:00 PM – Hand-build your own Meep while they pre-throw the body, so you get the fun bits like crazy eyes, texture, and midlife existential charm. Six inches of adorable crisis energy for your shelf, fully guided, easy for beginners, and ready to paint in two weeks.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
|
📣 Own or manage a local business?
Meet BaseLocal Business — a free and easy way to get your business happenings in front of our readers.
How it works:
- Sign up (it takes less than 5 minutes)
- We’ll manually verify your business is legit
- Once verified, you’ll be able to share events, news, and special deals with us any time
Everything you share is reviewed, and approved submissions are automatically considered for future newsletters. AKA… your business has a much higher chance of being featured in front of thousands of Hamilton County locals who live, shop, eat, and share good things with their friends.
We also regularly spotlight verified businesses just because we think they’re great.
Click here to get started (it’s free) →
|
📻 Hamilton County report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 61°F – Low: 56°F – Precip: 28%
Scattered rain showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy. High near 61, with temperatures falling to around 57 in the afternoon. South southeast wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Rain showers before 10pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy. Low around 56, with temperatures rising to around 61 overnight. South wind 16 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
—
Tomorrow – High: 63°F – Low: 42°F – Precip: 98%
Rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 63. West southwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: A slight chance of rain showers before 7pm, then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. North wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
This house is wild
This 5-bed, 3.5-bath spans nearly 4,000 square feet in Carmel Clay schools, minutes from downtown Carmel. A grand foyer opens to a sunken family room with fireplace, custom built-ins, and a sunroom. The gourmet kitchen features high-end appliances and a large island. Dual primary suites, one on the main and one upstairs, boost flexibility.
Upstairs adds three bedrooms and a full bath, plus a finished basement for workouts. Outside, an inground pool, putting green, and patio anchor entertaining. A heated three-car garage with epoxy floors joins updates like a new roof, gutters, HVAC, refreshed kitchen and baths, and new flooring.
Take a peek inside →
|
 |
Thanks for reading! If you know someone who’d love BaseLocal, send ’em here so they can sign up too 🙂
|
|
|
|
